Caring for ferals-- discouraged

I I would really appreciate some advice and encouragement. I am caring for two feral babies one 4 months and one 5 months. These little kitties had been coming to my yard for a couple weeks for feedings when I started to research what I could do for them and wound up trapping, neutering and getting them distemper and rabies shots. My plan has been to tame them and keep them but so far this has seem like an impossible task.

They are currently staying in a kitty proof basement where I have made them a comfy den out of a cardboard box with a hole and soft bedding inside. I have provided a litter box ( that they are awesome at using) a cat tree, talk radio playing and toys. I feed them regularly and have actually pet them both. They jump up to the basement window where they are sort of trapped. It is there I have fed them treats and chicken flavored baby food and snuck a few ear and chin scratches without then bolting. I also use this as a time to interact with them from the other side of the basement window through the screen. I let my kids play outside at this time and have the kids ignore the kitties and go about their business so the kitties can get used to them as well.

My problem is that they seem really miserable and almost depressed. They won't play with lasers or mouse on the rod toys with me at all. They won't come out of hiding to eat when I bring them their meals. Today will be one week and they still hide from me. My basement is safe but has many hidey places and I often have to use a flashlight to seek them out behind things.

I am feeling like I am making little progress and wonder if I would do better by them to just release them where I trapped them. I am reading conflicting things about the feasibility of taming kittens that are a little on the older side. Forgot to mention I have had them in my house for exactly one week now.

Sorry to ramble but I really need some advice. Thanks!

You had them just one week?  It think you are progressing fully OK.  It does takes time and patience, and a portion of love. But knowing some basics, its not very difficult...

Try also with a Feliway diffuser.  Not necessary, but a nice help.  To get them feel less stressed, more comfortabble, to grade down their anxiousness and being tensed...

I think as first step, its better to have calming, relaxing music better than talk radio.  At this moment, before they had landed for real, talking radio makes them nervous.  Classical harp music is prob best, but almost any may work...

YOU shall talk with a friendly voice a lot, making friendly noises when you are there...  Its a natural language for cats, both moms and friendly courting toms use much sounds...

Some ideas.  You are thinking right, and are on a good way, doing entirely OK!

Dciam6 said:

I I would really appreciate some advice and encouragement. I am caring for two feral babies one 4 months and one 5 months. These little kitties had been coming to my yard for a couple weeks for feedings when I started to research what I could do for them and wound up trapping, neutering and getting them distemper and rabies shots. My plan has been to tame them and keep them but so far this has seem like an impossible task.

They are currently staying in a kitty proof basement where I have made them a comfy den out of a cardboard box with a hole and soft bedding inside. I have provided a litter box ( that they are awesome at using) a cat tree, talk radio playing and toys. I feed them regularly and have actually pet them both. They jump up to the basement window where they are sort of trapped. It is there I have fed them treats and chicken flavored baby food and snuck a few ear and chin scratches without then bolting. I also use this as a time to interact with them from the other side of the basement window through the screen. I let my kids play outside at this time and have the kids ignore the kitties and go about their business so the kitties can get used to them as well.

My problem is that they seem really miserable and almost depressed. They won't play with lasers or mouse on the rod toys with me at all. They won't come out of hiding to eat when I bring them their meals. Today will be one week and they still hide from me. My basement is safe but has many hidey places and I often have to use a flashlight to seek them out behind things.

I am feeling like I am making little progress and wonder if I would do better by them to just release them where I trapped them. I am reading conflicting things about the feasibility of taming kittens that are a little on the older side. Forgot to mention I have had them in my house for exactly one week now.

Sorry to ramble but I really need some advice. Thanks!

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I think you're doing just fine actually! My former stray would barely even look at toys for the first several weeks, and this is a really friendly cat who let me pick him up less than five minutes after I found him. They just need time to adjust and feel more comfortable. It sounds like you're progressing pretty well if you were able to sneak in some chin scratches. Continue doing what you're doing, and talk to them a lot when you're down there. I believe you're doing the right thing by keeping them.

It also might help if you can remove some of the hiding places. They should have somewhere that makes them comfortable for sure, but it'll be easier if you have fewer places to check.

I too agree that - I know it's hard to believe - but being able to sneak in chin scratches on them is really good at this point! Definitely reduce the number of hiding places - to zero if possible. We usually block off a smaller area of our basement bedroom our socializing happens in (my husband puts up plywood panels, held together securely with duct tape). It greatly reduces their roaming space - we make sure it encompasses the radio, tv, window, and the crate with the carrier inside, plus room for my husband and myself to sit).  It sounds cruel, but the more they're forced to deal with you, and then they find out you're not scary - the better. The more they're allowed to hide, the easier it is to continue the hiding, timid feral behavior. Know that at 4 and 5 months - they'll take some time. Tiny babies are one thing - these guys have had a lot of time to learn from mom - and others in the colony - how scary humans are. But that's not saying they can't be socialized! It sounds like you're already starting!

The big things I do - several already mentioned above: plug a Feliway into an outlet. Sometimes I also get a Feliway spray and spray my hands and shirt etc before I go into "their" room. I also leave either a radio playing softly to talk radio or a television set softly to something like HGTV - 24/7. Both of those desensitize them to the sound of human voices and random sounds in general. I also spend as MUCH time as possible (I work from home, making it easier) sitting in their area - I read out loud, comment on what's on tv to them, or just take my computer down and work. It's good for them to see that you're not going to "go straight for them" every time you enter the room. So big chunks of time help ALOT.

I also use chicken baby food (Gerbers - make sure no onions). Cats and kittens seem to LOVE it - it stinks to high heave - and I offer it on a long handled, iced tea spoon. Give them a little nibble, whetting their appetites, then eventually use it to guide them so that they have to walk across you (you can even sneak in a few pets!) to keep licking it off. It's kind of the magic elixir for a lot of kittens and cats!

Keep going - the first parts' the hardest. But if you get through it - you've got a shot!